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Are you planning a trip to Liechtenstein, but you’re not sure where exactly to go?

Liechtenstein is an incredible, tiny country tucked away between Switzerland and Austria in the heart of the Alps. It’s mountainous, beautiful and expensive. But, despite it all, it’s so worth visiting. It’s the second least visited country in Europe and the sixth smallest. The term ‘hidden gem’ gets used a lot, and usually incorrectly; however, I think Liechtenstein truly fits the definition.

Chris and I visited in 2024 as part of our 6 country road trip through Europe and absolutely fell in love with it. The landscape is very similar to that of the Swiss Alps, but Stausee Steg stole our hearts. It’s one of the most gorgeous places we have ever been, and somewhere you don’t see every day.

In this Liechtenstein travel guide, I’ll go into detail, including how to get to Liechtenstein, where to stay in Liechtenstein and the top things to do in Liechtenstein that you don’t see in most travel guides. As well as some interesting facts about the little country that might surprise you!

Keep reading to start planning your trip to 2 days in Liechtenstein and stop wondering what there is to do in this tiny country!

In a hurry? Here is our quick guide to visiting Liechtenstein!

How to get here: The best way to get to Liechtenstein is to fly into Zurich Airport and then either drive or catch a train then a final bus to Vaduz
What language is spoken? The main language that is spoken in Liechtenstein is German
What currency is used? Liechtenstein uses the Swiss franc
Where to stay: JUFA Hotel Malbun if you want to stay in the mountains, Jurte beim Lama- & Alpakahof Triesenberg if you want to go glamping or Residence Hotel in Vaduz
When to visit: The best time to visit Liechtenstein really depends on what you’re looking to do here. However, I think the best time is May-September when you have the best chance of sunshine.
Travel adapter: Swiss/Liechtenstein outlets have their own unique shape that only a select few European adapters will fit into, so make sure you’re travelling with the correct adapter or a universal one.

How to Spend 2 Perfect Days in Liechtenstein: The Ultimate 2-Day Travel Guide

Here’s a quick look at what this 2-Day Liechtenstein itinerary will cover!

Day 1:
Explore the capital, Vaduz, via the land train
Enjoy the views from Vaduz Castle
Visit the gorgeous Stausee Steg

Day2:
Take in the views from Gutenberg Castle
Sample wine at one of the Prince’s vineyards
Visit the highest restaurant in Liechtenstein

Here is a handy map to help you find each spot:

Before we dive into this 2 days in Liechtenstein itinerary, I’ll cover some frequently asked questions as well as some helpful ones to help you make the most of your time in the small country, including how to get there, where to stay, and when the best time to visit is.

Some interesting facts to know about Liechtenstein before spending 2 days here:

– It’s the fourth smallest country in Europe
– Liechtenstein is the sixth smallest country in the world
– It is the second least visited country in Europe
– It is one of the only principalities in the world, which means a prince and not a government govern it
– Liechtenstein sees approximately 60,000 to 100,000 tourists each year.

Everything you need to know to help you plan a 2 day trip to Liechtenstein:

Liechtenstein is an extremely under-travelled country, which can make planning 2 days in Liechtenstein more work than planning a trip to most other countries. But, if you’re wondering ‘what to see in Liechtenstein?’ Don’t worry, there’s A LOT. So, without ado, let’s dive into this Liechtenstein travel guide!

Is Liechtenstein worth visiting? (spoiler: yes!)

Without a doubt, yes!

Liechtenstein is such a gorgeous and underrated country. It’s tiny, (just over 160 square kilometres (62 square miles), which makes it incredibly easy to see a lot in a short amount of time, perfect if you have just 2 days in Liechtenstein. We also saw hardly any other tourists whilst we were here, which just adds to the allure. Stausee Steg is one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen, and the view over the countryside and mountains from Gutenberg Castle.

If you get the opportunity, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Liechtenstein. There are also tons of things to do in Liechtenstein throughout the seasons.

Where is Liechtenstein?

It is a tiny landlocked country in western Europe, bordering Switzerland. It is situated in the Upper Rhine valley of the European Alps, with Austria to the east and Switzerland to the West.

How to get to Liechtenstein:

Liechtenstein does not have its own airport. The nearest airport is Zurich Airport (ZRH) in Switzerland, and the journey takes approximately 1.5 hours by either car or train. 

If you are planning on driving in Liechtenstein, keep in mind that Liechtenstein drives on the right side of the road. This is opposite to the UK, but the same as North America.

Travelling via public transport to Liechtenstein

Train from Zurich Flughafen (airport) – Zurich Hauptbahnhof (main train station)
Train from Zurich Hbf – Sargans, Switzerland
Bus from Sargans train station – Vaduz Post

It is worth noting that the Swiss Travel Pass is also valid in Liechtenstein. If you’re travelling via public transport, this is a great way to travel around the two countries, and not have to worry about train times and booking your journeys in advance. You could also visit Liechtenstein from Zurich as part of a day trip to Liechtenstein if you have limited time.

Driving into Liechtenstein

If you are visiting either of the neighbouring countries or Germany, then it’s also easy to drive across the border (there’s no border check) and explore Liechtenstein with a car or campervan, as we did.

If you’re travelling from Switzerland, take the A13 highway and exit at Haag, then follow the signs towards Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. From here, you can either drive onto Stuasee Steg or stay in Vaduz.

Best time to visit Liechtenstein

The answer to this question really depends on your interests and what you’re looking to do whilst in Liechtenstein. I visited in July, and for most of the time, the weather was gorgeous. However, when we arrived, it was misty over Stuasee Steg, so we had no view initially. Luckily, this has cleared by the morning.

Summer (June to August) offers warm, dry conditions perfect for hiking and sightseeing, while spring and autumn (April-May and September-October) are less crowded and offer milder temperatures. Winter (November to March) is best for skiing, winter sports and snowshoeing (or just admiring the nature covered in snow.

Where to stay in Liechtenstein (best areas & hotels)

Vaduz can be a great place to base yourself in, especially if you’re taking public transport into the country. However, if you’re looking to stay in the mountains surrounded by nature then I recommend heading towards Stausee Steg.

Here are some specific hotels I recommend:

Accommodation in Stausee Steg: JUFA Hotel Malbun – a gorgeous hotel in the mountains, just a short journey from the lake.
Go glamping surrounded by the mountains: Jurte beim Lama- & Alpakahof Triesenberg
Accommodation in Vaduz: Residence Hotel – it’s close to everything, including a mix of great restaurants. The breakfast is highly rated, and the staff are friendly; you’ll even receive a free welcome drink.

You can find other hotel options here:

How to travel around Liechtenstein

The best way to travel around really is by hiring a car. If you are able, then this is what we recommend, as you’ll be able to travel at your own pace and be able to travel to the mountains and lakes as you please.

However, if this isn’t an option, then you can travel around the country via a mix of trains or buses. These are also included in your Swiss Travel Pass. LIEmobil runs the public transport in Liechtenstein, which operates 17 Bus routes in Liechtenstein, meaning you could easily do this Liechtenstein itinerary without hiring a car.

You can find all of the routes on the LIEmobil website.

Perfect 2-Day Liechtenstein itinerary: day-by-day breakdown

Day 1: Day 1 – Vaduz, the Castle & Stausee Steg

Late Morning: Explore the town of Vaduz

Start your Liechtenstein itinerary by exploring the capital, Vaduz. The capital town (not city) is home to the prince and is a lovely, clean town. One of the cutest ways to explore the centre is to take the little land train around the centre. You’ll discover the gorgeous landscape and learn about the history of the country. It’s one of the best things to see in Liechtenstein.

Visit Vaduz Castle – where the prince lives!

One of the best things to do in Liechtenstein is to visit Vaduz Castle. The castle is a palace and the official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein.

You can walk up to Vaduz Castle from the town centre. To get there, follow the road up Beckagässli, to the left of Brasserie Burg. From there, follow the signs towards the Schloss. The walk will take you about 25 minutes. The castle is not open to the public however, you can enjoy the incredible views over the country and towards the Swiss and Austrian Alps.

Get your passport stamped

I also recommend popping into the tourist office in Vaduz and getting your passport stamped with a souvenir stamp, it’s a fun way to remember your trip and a unique passport stamp to have. The stamp costs CHF 3 or EUR 3 per stamp. If you’re worried about it being a ‘souvenir stamp’ and it affecting your entry to other countries, don’t!

Although the Liechtenstein passport stamp is given inside the tourist information centre, for a fee, the Liechtenstein tourism office has a government decree allowing them to give out the passport stamp, meaning you won’t face any issues with having it down the line.

Museum hop in Vaduz

If it’s raining or you’re interested in learning about the history of Liechtenstein, then I recommend visiting some of the museums on offer in this Liechtenstein city. Just note that the museums are closed on a Monday.

You can visit the Liechtenstein National Museum, Kunstmuseum, Postal Museum and the Treasure Chamber. These sites are within steps of each other, which makes it easy to museum-hop.

Top Tip: If you plan on museum hopping, then it’s worth buying the Liechtenstein Adventure Pass for 25 CHF.

It includes free entry to the Kunstmuseum (15 CHF) – (unless you visit on a Wednesday, as entry is free then), National Museum and Treasure Chamber (13 CHF), free wine tastings (the biggest win in my eyes!) and discounts on bike and e-bike rentals as well as llama and alpaca tours and free public transport. Plus, you can also claim your souvenir passport stamp with it for free!

The Adventure Pass can be purchased in Liechtenstein at the tourism office or ahead of time online, which means it can then be used to travel from Switzerland to Liechtenstein on public transport for free as well.

Vaduz is also where you’ll find the most restaurants in Liechtenstein, so I recommend either enjoying brunch here or an early lunch. The local dishes are hearty and similar to those of Switzerland and Austria.

If you don’t have time to spend 2 days in Liechtenstein, then it’s worth at least doing a day trip to Vaduz. You can easily do this from Zurich or anywhere else in Switzerland.

Afternoon: Relax, hike, and swim in Stausee Steg

This was my favourite place in the whole of Liechtenstein. It’s absolutely gorgeous and such an underrated spot in Europe and truly one of the best things to do in Liechtenstein.

If you’re travelling via public transport, from Vaduz, take Bus 21 towards Steg. The bus ride is really gorgeous, you’ll climb quite a lot of altitude, going high up into the mountains via a windy road, but the view are well worth it before descending and ending up at Stuasee Steg. The journey takes around 30 minutes via bus.

If you’re driving, from Vaduz, head towards Triesenberg and continue up to the village of Steg. The drive from Vaduz to Steg takes about 20 minutes. Be mindful of the twisting and turning, so if you suffer from car sickness, be prepared to stop a lot. There are parking facilities near the reservoir, which are free.

Once you’re here, there are two lakes: Stausee Steg and Gänglesee, both side by side. Stausee Steg is bright blue, has the cutest ducks swimming on it, and is surrounded by lush green nature. Gänglesee is adjacent and is not as deep, but it is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Both are stunning. This was our favourite thing to see in Liechtenstein.

Whilst you’re here, you can enjoy a BBQ or picnic around the lake, swim in it or hike around it. Or, just admire the view. I’ve written a guide on Stausee Steg to help you plan your afternoon, which you can read here.

Evening: Watch the sunset over the mountains

Stausee Steg has so many gorgeous spots that you can capture the sunset from. I recommend spending your evening here, watching the sun set over the lake and seeing the sky turn golden. If you have a campervan, then I recommend cooking dinner here, or you can bring a picnic and enjoy it around the lake. We also saw some fires that people were having, so this is also an option to cook your dinner.

There is a restaurant here, but it was closed when we visited as it was changing hands, however, it has since re-opened and is open until 20:00 Wednesday – Sunday. Another option is JUFA Hotel Malbun, where their restaurant is open between 12:00-21:00 every day. It’s a short drive (6 minutes) or a 45-minute walk from the lake.

Day 2 – Gutenberg Castle, wine & views

Late Morning: Visit Gutenberg Castle

After, hopefully seeing a gorgeous sunrise over Stausee Steg, head back down the mountains to Balzers and pay a visit to Gutenberg Castle.

Gutenberg Castle was built in the High Middle Ages and stands on a hill about 70m above the nearby village. The bailey is open to visitors free of charge throughout the whole year. The chapel and rose garden are open to visitors from 1 May until 31 October every Sunday between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. They weren’t open when we visited, however, the views are worth the walk up. They’re stunning and stretch over the mountains of Liechtenstein.

Afternoon: Visit a vineyard

The Balzers region is known for its wine, so visiting one of the prince’s vineyards should be included in your Liechtenstein itinerary. I’ve said that a lot in this itinerary, but it’s because the views are just incredible in every direction.

Evening: Visit the highest restaurant in Liechtenstein

If you’re still able to drive, then I recommend visiting Restaurant ​Berggasthaus Masescha, located 1,240 meters above sea level. You can see the whole of Liechtenstein from this restaurant, and the views are just magnificent.

The restaurant is internationally known for its “Maria’s Apple Cake”, whose recipe has been a closely guarded family secret for many years. So, if you’ve got room after your main course, I suggest you try a slice!

Restaurant ​Berggasthaus Masescha is only open from Wednesday to Sunday.

After dinner, it’s time to leave Liechtenstein and travel to your next destination! I recommend exploring nearby Switzerland…

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on visiting Liechtenstein for 2 days.

Final Thoughts on a 2-day itinerary including the best things to do in Liechtenstein

And there you have it, our 2-day itinerary for Liechtenstein. Despite the country’s small size, there are so many things to do in Lichtenstein, with gorgeous views in every direction that are just wonderful. You’ll never be left wondering “What to do in Liechtenstein?”. 2 days is the perfect amount of time to explore the country and really get a feel for this unique place without it feeling too rushed.

Of course, if you have longer than there are plenty of other things to do in Liechtenstein that you can do, like hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter.

If Liechtenstein wasn’t on your bucket list before, I really hope that it is now!